Remember that time you had a great idea? You were probably doing something you’ve done a thousand times before and you thought, “There’s got to be an easier way. Why doesn’t somebody invent…” fill in the blank.

People who work in universities have these kinds of ideas too. When you think about it, the reason people work at universities is they’re smart. They’re the kinds of people who deal in ideas. But by and large they’re not the kinds of people who know how to turn an idea into a product. That’s why universities now have departments that do just that. They’re called departments of Technology Transfer.

At Tulane the Executive Director of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Development is John Christie.

At the LSU Health Sciences Center the Director of Technology Management is Patrick Reed.

Peter Ricchiuti has a good idea of his own: have lunch with John Christie and Patrick Reed.

Photos over lunch in The Wine Room at Commander’s Palace by Jill Lafleur.